Known locally for confusing the role of church and state and hiding in the bushes at gay rallies at the state capital, Michele gained national notoritety for trying to suck Dubya’s face off on national TV and pretending to have some kind of insider perspective on policy wrt Iran. But most recently she became the face of the new McCarthyism, attacking not only Barack Obama but all of Congress.

MyDD discusses how Bachmann’s latest gaffes – including denying what she said then repeating it again for a national audience – is having legs beyond her own race.

Bachmann’s “self-inflicted” damage may drag down Republicans all over the ballot, University of Minnesota professor Lawrence Jacobs said. “It will not take much of a dip in turnout to have a cataclysmic effect on the races in Minnesota,” said Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

Taking down Senator Norm Coleman with her, if only through depressed turnout, would be a good thing.

Norm Coleman is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t with Michele Bachmann. He can’t afford to alienate the base. He also can’t afford to be seen with the base. He’s been counting on avoiding coverage of events that he does that pander to the Bachmannistas.

Al Franken, who let’s face it, isn’t the ideal candidate, is up two points in the polls and that may well be enough.